Community garden beats vandals and wins prize

News from Auchinleck Community Development Initiative

Staff at The Knowe Community Garden Centre, part-funded by Ayrshire LEADER, were devastated when they arrived at work on the morning of Wednesday 20 November. A group of vandals had rolled a large wire cable drum, which was waiting to be upcycled into a garden table, into the seating area of the Sensory Garden. This resulted in the bench being almost destroyed. The scene was very disheartening for the staff and volunteers who put in so much effort to keep the garden, which is run by Auchinleck Community Development Initiative, looking its best.

The team was delighted however when their photographs on Facebook resulted in a neighbouring project in Netherthird, NCAT, offering to help. A big thank-you to them and local man David Hannah who put the bench back together and Pollock’s Farm Equipment for the offer of parts. Thus showing what can be done ‘with a little help from our friends’.

With that low point now behind them, Meg Sharp, Horticultural Trainer, and Kaye Hannah, Garden Centre Manager, travelled down to London for the Groundwork Community Awards. Having scrubbed up and left dirty wellies behind in Auchinleck, the ladies checked into the venue for the awards, the luxurious Royal Horseguards Hotel.

At the award ceremony, Kaye and Meg were delighted, if a little shocked, to accept the award of ‘Best UK Community Garden or Green Space of the year’.

"We’re elated to have won our second award this year," said Kaye – the team had already won Best Community Garden in Shire Housing’s Competition. "I am delighted for our Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, local nursery children and school pupils who all contributed to our success. We’re really grateful for everyone who took the time to vote."

Receiving the award energised the team, which they needed for the busy week ahead of them as they took delivery of 500 young trees when they arrived back to work on Monday morning! They received these trees free thanks to the initiative ‘I Dig Trees’ led by The Conservation Volunteers in partnership with OVO Energy. OVO support this campaign as trees, or ‘wooden wonders’ as they call them, literally eat carbon out of the air. OVO is on a journey with their members to reach zero-carbon living, and trees are helping them get there.

In the same week The Knowe joined the Winter Resilience Initiative with East Ayrshire Council who have supplied PPE and equipment to help grit paths and clear snow and ice from the area around the garden.

The celebrations continued with one of The Knowe’s volunteers, Jordan Whiteford receiving his John Muir Discovery Award. He is well on his way to achieving his Explorer Award. The awards scheme is operated by the John Muir Trust and encourages people to connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places. The environmental award scheme is for people of all ages and is non-competitive, inclusive and accessible.

Future plans at The Knowe include classes for Auchinleck Primary to come along and plant some of the trees as well as some bulbs. Funding for the bulbs came from the Co-op who funded The Knowe to deliver engagement activities with local schoolchildren. We think this clearly demonstrates that in spite of setbacks, the power of partnership working is making Auchinleck a nicer place to live.

The Knowe Community Garden Centre was funded by:

• The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Ayrshire LEADER Programme
• TESCO Bags for Help
• Cumnock & Doon Valley Minerals Trust
• BIG Lottery

Find out more about the Knowe.